thesaurus.maths.org

A general look at something; a general examination of a situation or a subject.
In data handling a survey is a means of collecting a sample of data. The process usually involves four steps:

1. deciding what subject is of interest;
   
   
2. what questions to ask;
   
   
3. what type of people will you ask; and
   
   
4. exactly which people will be asked.
   

A survey can also mean the process of making a detailed accurate map of a piece of land by measuring distances and angles.